USDA-ARS Cereal Root Disease Project 

Whiteheads caused by Foot Rot  ©Oregon State University

Dryland Foot Rot  ©APS

Take-All   ©APS

The South-Central & Southeastern Idaho Extension Cereals Program has recently been assigned to perform research into cereal root diseases in Idaho under the USDA-Agricultural Research Service.  This project is part of the USDA Root Disease & Biological Control Research Program based out of Pullman, WA.

 We are currently in the process of creating a state-of-the-art laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho to compliment and support present field research and launched in the Spring of 2005 a foot rot nursery at the Aberdeen Research & Experiment Center for field testing cereal varieties in a high disease pressure environment. 

USDA-ARS Program Description:

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research is to identify, characterize and control soilborne pathogens of wheat and barley, such as Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Gaeumannomyces, Bipolaris and/or Fusarium, which cause root and crown rot diseases; to identify the effects of cropping systems on root pathogen population size and diversity, and on disease epidemiology; and to identify useful wheat and/or barley germplasm with performance against root pathogens.

Approach:
Root and crown rot diseases will be identified and characterized through a combination of laboratory, greenhouse and field studies. The ecology of root pathogens and effects of cropping system on pathogen population size and diversity and disease epidemiology will be determined using plant pathology, microbiology and molecular biology methods and approaches. Wheat and barley germplasm will be screened for resistance or tolerance to root pathogens in the field and greenhouse. Practical root disease control will be accomplished through a combination of agronomic practices and biological and chemical treatments.

Other Projects under the USDA Root Disease & Biological Control Research Program

7-19-05 Dr. Juliet Windes rating cereal diseases in Aberdeen, Idaho with Brandon McIntosh recording notes. 

9-29-05 Tod Shelman harvesting Harrington barley grown under dryland conditions in Arbon Valley.

U of I  Statewide Cereal Extension Home